On Super Museum Sunday, Feb. 9, over 100 Georgia museums, historic sites and other points of interest will offer free admission.

The big game isn’t the only super thing happening on Feb. 9. It’s also Super Museum Sunday, when over 100 Georgia museums, historic sites and other points of interest will offer free admission.

Organized as part of the annual Georgia History Festival, the event provides an opportunity for Georgians to explore and experience history, arts and culture in communities throughout the state. Georgia’s 17 official State Historic Sites are among this year’s participating venues. Many locations will offer guided tours, demonstrations, children’s activities and special exhibits.

If you’ve been suffering from cabin fever over the weeks of winter, Super Museum Sunday offers a reason to get out and go. Take advantage of this no-cost opportunity to check out that nearby historic site you’re always meaning to visit. Families on a budget can enjoy a new activity without busting the entertainment budget. Students can use the opportunity to earn some class credit or collect information for that history project. And the curious can simply learn something new.

Whatever your reason, don’t miss this annual one-day chance to go exploring. To help you choose a place to visit, here are some favorite sites recommended by Walton Gas employees.

  • Cherokee County History Center, Canton. The museum’s special exhibit, A Century of Toys: 100 Years of Play, provides a nostalgic look at iconic toys across the decades, from classic Lincoln Logs and Barbie dolls to LEGO blocks and Pokémon collectibles. The exhibit is designed to resonate with children and adults alike, celebrating both timeless favorites and trends in the world of play. Visitors will also get a peek at the 2024 finalists for the National Toy Hall of Fame. The exhibit closes on Feb. 23, so the free admission day is a good opportunity to check it out.
  • Dahlonega Gold Museum, Dahlonega. Even most Georgians don’t realize that the saying “There’s gold in them thar hills!” originated in this state. Twenty years before the 1849 gold rush in California, thousands of prospectors flocked into north Georgia, marking the true beginning of our country’s first gold rush. A museum housed inside the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse recounts the boom period when a U.S. Branch Mint coined more than $6 million in gold in the area. Visitors can see a complete set of these rare coins, a nugget weighing more than five ounces and more.
Franklin Roosevelt’s hand-controlled vehicles on display at the Little White House State Historic Site

Auto enthusiasts will enjoy Franklin Roosevelt’s hand-controlled vehicles on display at the Little White House State Historic Site. Courtesy Georgia Department of Natural Resources

  • Roosevelt’s Little White House State Historic Site, Warm Springs. Before he became the 32nd U.S. president, Franklin Roosevelt built this house so he could seek therapy in the nearby warm springs used by polio patients. Visitors can see the famous “unfinished portrait” which he was posing for when he passed away, a film with historic footage and his 1938 hand-controlled Ford roadster. Electric co-op members might be interested in the exhibit detailing FDR’s role in bringing electricity to rural America.

Take a free peek inside the 1811 Heritage Hall in Madison during a free tour on Super Museum Sunday. Courtesy Morgan County Historical Society

  • Chatham County museums and historic sites, Savannah and surrounding areas. As the home of event presenter Georgia Historical Society, more than 40 area museums and historic sites are participating in Super Museum Sunday. Among them are the SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah Botanical Gardens and the Girl Scout First Headquarters Museum.
  • New Echota State Historic Site, Calhoun. As the place where the “Trail of Tears” began, New Echota is one of the most significant Cherokee Indian sites in the nation. Among the 12 original and reconstructed buildings is the Council House, an 1805 store and the print shop where you can see the Cherokee Nation’s first newspaper.
Visitors to New Echota State Historic Site in Calhoun can see interpretive exhibits in the visitor center before touring the site’s 12 original and reconstructed buildings

Visitors to New Echota State Historic Site in Calhoun can see interpretive exhibits in the visitor center before touring the site’s 12 original and reconstructed buildings. Courtesy Georgia Department of Natural Resources

  • Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia, Sautee Nacoochee (near Helen). The museum is one of just a handful in the world to focus on folk pottery. Exhibits trace 200 years of the region’s folk pottery history and explores its significance in southern life.

Know before you go

Locations: Find a comprehensive list of participating sites by county and an interactive map of venues on the Georgia History Festival website.

Activities: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Super Museum Sunday page has a schedule of activities and special events planned at State Historic Sites.

Hours: The official hours of Super Museum Sunday are 12–4 p.m., however hours will vary at some sites. Be sure to check a location’s website before your visit.